Hand operable fire extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A hand-operable, portable fire extinguisher, including a container of a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent, such as a mixture of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate or bicarbonate and a synthetic metal silicate in synergistic proportions, a distributing means, such as a disc with curved slots and a horn-type pattern limiting device, a propellant means, such as a pressurized gas container, means for puncturing the container and a piston driven by the released gas pressure and a hand-operable actuating device, such as a slidable pin to release a spring loaded puncturing means. Restraining means to slow the discharge of the extinguishing agent, such as a spring or brake on the previously mentioned piston, is also disclosed.

United States Patent [191,

Dunn June 17, 1975 [541 AND OPERABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER 3,251,420 5/1966 Rodgers 169/77 [76] Inventor: Byron G. Dunn, 6831 Orchid Ln.,

Dallas, Tex. 75230 :"m y g yg fi s sszstant xammer to ac ar [22] Filed: 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles F. Steininger 21 Appl. No.: 417,082

Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuatiomin-part of Ser. No. 131,333, April 5, A hand-operable, portable fire extinguisher, including 1971, Pat. No. 3,773,111, and a Continuation-impart a container of a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing of S 4001623 m 25, 1973- and 3 agent, such as a mixture of analkali metal or alkaline iggg of 4007640 Sept- 257 earth metal carbonate or bicarbonate and synthetic metal silicate in synergistic proportions, a distributing means, such as a disc with curved slots and a horn- [52] U.S. Cl. 169/74, 169/77, 1166948383, type pattern limiting device, a propellant means, such [51] Int Cl A62 13 20 as a pressurized gas container, means for puncturing c the container and a piston driven by the released gas [58] Field of Search 169/73, 77, 33, 89, 72,

1 ,9/26 28 71 74 85 88 pressure and a hand-operable actuatmg dev1ce, such as a slidable pin to release a spring loaded puncturing means. Restraining means to slow the discharge of the [56] Reference? Clted extinguishing agent, such as a spring or brake on the UNITED STATES PATENTS previously mentioned piston, is also disclosed. 2,357,682 9/1944 Morton,,, 169/26 2,704,582 3/1955 Bowman 169/77 9 Clams 11 Drawmg Flgures HAND OPERABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 131,333, filed Apr. 5, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,773,] 1 1; Ser. No. 400,623, filed Sept. 25, 1973 and Ser. No. 400,640, filed Sept. 25, 1973, all by the present inventor. These prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable fire extinguisher. In a more specific aspect, the present invention relates to a portable fire extinguisher in which the body of the extinguisher can be pointed directly toward the fire. In a still more specific aspect, the present invention relates to a portable fire extinguisher in which the body of the extinguisher may be pointed directly toward the fire and which is capable of extinguishing a fire and preventing reignition.

In the past, many and varied portable or hand-held type fire extinguishers have been proposed.

The oldest and still most widely used type chemical fire extinguisher is the water type (sode-acid) extinguisher. Such an extinguisher consists of a cylindrical or conical-shaped steel body approximately twothirds filled with water in which bicarbonate of soda has been dissolved and which also contains a bottle of sulfuric acid. When the acid is released, it mixes with the soda solution and the reaction generates carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas exerts a pressure on the surface of the water and ejects it through a nozzle in the form of a jet. The nozzle usually forms part of the body and in most cases it is connected by a short length of flexible tubing. When sodium bicarbonate reacts with sulfuric acid, carbon dioxide is the prime and desired product. However, some water and some sodium sulfate are also formed. The sodium sulfate is, not only, valueless but objectionable since it may damage clothing, fabrics or the like. There are two types of sode-acid extinguishers. Specifically, there is the turn-over type in which the acid bottle is fitted with a loose lead stopper which falls out when the extinguisher is turned over. In the upright type, the acid is contained in a sealed glass bottle which is broken by a striker or plunger or by vibrations set up by the impact of a hammer hinged on the outside of the body. Another less common type has the acid in a loose-stoppered bottle which is overturned by lifting a knob. There are numerous disadvantages to such extinguishers. including accidental discharge of the acid into the body of soda solution, the complexity of operation to a normal individual who is not accustomed to utilizing the device except on rare occasions, in the case of the turnover type, the problem of turning the extinguisher over while, at the same time, playing the spray from a hose held in the other hand and, in the upright type, the problem of providing a syphon leading from the bottom of the extinguisher to the nozzle at the top.

There is also the water type (gas pressured) extinguisher. In this type of extinguisher, the extinguisher is about two-thirds filled with plain water and the necessary gas pressure is supplied from a cartridge containing compressed carbon dioxide or nitrogen within the body of the extinguisher. The cartridge has its top sealed by a sealing disc which is pierced by the operation of a plunger or the like. Here again, such extinguishers are cumbersome, they generally require a syphon and usually include the conventional hand-held hose.

Extinguishers utilizing chemical and mechanical foams are also known. In the chemical foam extinguisher, foam is produced by a chemical reaction between an acid and salt solution, usually aluminum sulfate and an alkaline salt solution, usually sodium bicarbonate to which a stabilizer such as saponine or the like has been added. The reaction of the aluminum sulfate and sodium bicarbonate produce aluminum hydroxide, sodium sulfate and carbon dioxide. The product is a foam compsed of masses of small bubbles, each filled with carbon dioxide. The stabilizer does not enter the chemical reaction but plays an essential part in the production of foam by forming and strengthening the walls of the bubbles. An extinguisher utilizing a chemical foam comprises an outer container and a concentrically-placed inner container. The outer container houses the water solution and sodium bicarbonate to which a stabilizer has been added and the inner container accommodates a charge of aluminum sulfate solution. To actuate the extinguisher, the solutions must be mixed. In some models, no other action is required if the inner container has unsealed openings at the top from which the acid flows into the salt solution when the device in inverted. In other instances, the inner container also contains a sealed pressurized gas bottle such as CO or nitrogen. The extinguisher is actuated by a plunger which releases the C0 The CO in turn, ruptures the aluminum sulfate container, thereby mixing the two ingredients. Here again, there is either the problem of inverting the main container to actuate the device or of utilizing a syphon in an upright model and, in any event, a hose through which the foam material is discharged is necessary.

There are also dry powder extinguishers in which the dry powder is expelled by a gas. The powder is usually sodium bicarbonate treated with various materials to render the bicarbonate free-flowing and prevent caking. The extinguisher, as such, is the usual container having the sodium bicarbonate disposed therein and a carbon dioxide bottle. The carbon dioxide forces the powder through a short rubber hose which terminates in a nozzle. A squeeze-grip control valve permits the discharge to be stopped or started at will. While such dry powders are particularly useful in extinguishing Class B fires in flammable liquids and Class C fires in electrical equipment, where the nonconductivity of the material is essential, these extinguishers have generally fallen into disuse. The primary reason is that the powder does not provide any protection against reignition as do foam extinguishers. Hence, the fire must be completely extinguished during one attack.

It is obvious from the above that numerous disadvantages are inherent in conventional portable extinguishers. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and provide a positive-acting fire extinguisher which is simple to operate, can be pointed directly at the fire and which is capable of not only extinguishing the fire but preventing reignition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable fire extinguisher comprising a container, a solid, powder-form extinguishing agent comprising a mixture of a major proportion of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkaline earth metal carbonate, an alkali metal bicarbonate or an alkaline earth metal bicarbonate and a minor proportion of a metal silicate, distributing means operably mounted on the container and adapted to distribute the extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in the container adapted to generate a gas pressure on the extinguishing agent and force the extinguishing agent through the distributing means and hand-operable actuating means operatively connected to the propellant means and adapted to actuate the propellant means and cause the propellant means to generate gas pressure on the extinguishing agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an extinguisher in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a cannister assembly for the extinguisher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propellant and actuator assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the propellant and actuator assembly;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the propellant and actuator assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view, partially in section, of an alternate nozzle assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially in section, of still another nozzle assembly;

FIG. 9 is a partial, exploded view of an alternate cannister assembly;

FIG. 10 is a partial, side view of an alternate propellant and actuator assembly; and

FIG. 11 is a top view of the propellant and actuator assembly of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a side view of an extinguisher in accordance with the present invention. The extinguisher comprises a cannister assembly 10, a nozzle assembly 12 and a hand-operable actuator 14. Nozzle assembly 12 includes a female portion 16 of a bayonet connection, an inwardly-converging conical portion 18, a neck portion 20, containing a distributing disc 22 (FIG. 2), and an outwardly-diverging conical portion or horn-shaped distributor member 24. FIG. 2 shows the distributor disc 22 in cross-section. Disc 22 has a plurality of curved slots 25 extending from the outer edge of disc 22 toward the center thereof. Disc 22 and conical portion 24 serve to distribute the extinguishing agent in a whirling or vertical pattern.

FIG. 3 of the drawings shows an exploded view of the cannister assembly 10 of the fire extinguishing system of the present application. In FIG. 3, a main tubular body portion 26 is provided. Body portion 26 is threaded at its rear end portion 28. Mounted inside tubular body 26, adjacent the front end thereof and resting against a reduced shoulder therein, is frangible disc 30. The tubular body 26 is packed with a dry, chemical fire extinguishing agent 32 (hereinafter referred to in greater detail). Thereafter, a piston 34 is positioned in tubular body 26. The rear end of tubular body portion 26 is then closed by means of frangible disc 36 mounted on actuator plate 38. Actuator plate 38 has mounted thereon propellant and actuator assembly 40.

Actuator plate 38 rests on a shoulder in end cap 42. Cap 42 is screwed on portion 28 of tubular body 26 and sealed by means of O-ring 44. The front end of tubular body 26 terminates in male portion 45 of a bayonet connection. Passing through the end of cap 42 is pin and ring 14. forming a part of actuator assembly 40.

FIG. 4 shows the propellant and actuator assembly 40 with actuator pin and ring 14. The assembly includes an actuator bracket 46, which holds a propellant cartridge 48 in cap 42. Pin and ring 14 hold hammer assembly 50 in the cocked position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the actuator assembly 40 in detail. Actuator assembly 40 is held in place by actuator bracket 46. Actuator bracket 46 is provided with a flange portion 52 which extends over and holds pressurized gas bottle 48 in place. Actuator bracket 46 is provided with apertures 54 which fit on posts (not shown) of actuator plate 38. Passing through a central aperture between the posts is a screw 56 which passes into an aperture of plate 38 to hold actuator bracket 46 in place. Actuator bracket 46 is provided with an aperture 58 which cooperates with an aperture in plate 38 to receive pivot pin 60 of the actuator assembly. Mounted on pivot pin 60 is hammer bracket 62. Hammer bracket 62 carries hammer 64 with puncturing pin 66. The puncturing pin 66 is so aligned that it will puncture the seal of gas bottle 48 at an appropriate time. Hammer 64 is manufactured as a separate entity from hammer bracket 62 and is attached thereto by swaging a central post 68. Pivot pin 60 also carries helical, power spring 70 which has one end thereof resting on top of hammer bracket 62 and the other end thereof resting against a post of support plate 38. The solid line outline of hammer bracket 62, hammer 64 and spring 70 show the active or released position of these elements. Shown in dashed lines is the cocked or inactive position of hammer bracket 62, hammer 64 and spring 70. Hammer bracket 62 is held in the cocked position by means of pin 72 of pin and ring 14. Pin 72 is held in place by passing through cap 42, plate 38, bracket 62 and an aperture in the actuator bracket. Thus, it is obvious that the actuator, once cocked, will operate as follows: Ring 74 is pulled, in the fashion of a hand grenade pin, thereby releasing hammer bracket 62 which is driven by power spring 70. In the extreme, hammer bracket 62 will assume the position shown in solid lines with the hammer 64 against the end of gas bottle 48 and the puncturing pin 66 through the seal of gas bottle 48.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate distributing nozzle in which baffles 86 together with central jet 88 distribute extinguishing agent in a solid conical pattern.

FIG. 8 is still another form of nozzle having baffle element 90 which distributes extinguishing agent in a solid conical pattern.

FIG. 9 shows a modified cannister assembly 10. In accordance with FIG. 9, a restraining spring 76 is attached to piston 34 and actuator plate 38. Spring 76 is stretched as piston 34 is moved by gas pressure thus slowing the travel of piston 34 and prolonging the discharge of extinguishing agent. In some cases, it has been found that the discharge rate of extinguishing agent must be slowed down to prolong the period of discharge in a hand extinguisher. Other restraining means, such as a friction brake on piston 34, and like means may also be employed.

FIGS. and 11 show a modified propellant and actuator means. In FIGS. 10 and 11, a pin 78 passes through cap 42, plate 38 and bracket 46. A spring 80,

under tension, is mounted on pin 78 to normally hold pin 78 to the right in FIG. 11. A hook 82 on pin 78 hooks on hammer bracket 62 to hold the hammer bracket 62 in the cocked position. In order torelease hammer bracket 62, button 84 is simply pressed in (tothe left in FIG. 11). a

The cannister assembly and theno'zzle assembly are preferably made of a-material having a high degree of The frangible discsutilized in accordance with the present invention are a laminate of paper-polyethylenealuminum foil-polyvinyl.

The nozzle seals are preferably of molded plastic lined with a'laminate of paper and aluminum foil.

The pressurized gas'bottle is preferably a bottle containing liquified CO A suitable-CO, cartridge is the type manufactured for Mae West.life jackets. This I component is designated by'the US. Military as MIL- C-601B, Type I.

A critical component of the system of the present application is the dry, chemical fire extinguishing agent. Such an extinguishing agent must meet a number of very stringent requirements. First of all, it should be capable of extinguishing a Class B'fire, which is a fire occurring in oils, greases, flammable liquids, etc. In extinguishing such fires, it is necessary that the extinguishing agent have a blanketing or smothering effect. Consequently, liquid fire extinguishing materials are generally useless, particularly, since they cause splattering, etc. of the liquid material which is aflame. Hence, the fire extinguishing material for this type of fire must, not only, rapidly extinguish the original flame but hold this condition and prevent or abate flashback or reignition. The fire extinguishing agent of the present system meets and exceeds all of these requirements.' The fire extinguishing agent of the present invention is a synergistic mixture of about 50 to 95% by weight of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkaline earth metal carbonate, an alkali metal bicarbonate or an alkaline earth metal bicarbonate and about 50 to 5% by weight of ametal sili- ,cate. Because of its availability, effectiveness and freetion is Silene L, manufactured by Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This material is a precipitated calcium silicate and has an approximate analysis of CaO 19% and SiO, 57%; and a loss on 2.1 and bulk density of about 15 to 16 pounds per cubic ignition of about 14%. It has a specific gravity of about foot. The preferred range of silicate is in the amount of 15 to 40% by weight and, specifically, the most effective has been found to be about 19% to 20% by weight. The composition may also include. minor amounts of, up to about 5% by weight of conventional desiccants,

lubricants, adsorbents and the like. Suitable materialsof this character include calcium chloride, diatoma-' ceous earth, silica gel, calcium stearate, etc. and prefera ably are present in an amount of about 3%. Calcium stearate is a preferreddesiccant. However, this last component is not necessaryto the synergistic effect of the, mixture of the present invention nor to its freeflowing properties. It has been found in accordance with the present invention that the mixture of bicarbon'-.

ate and silicate has free-flowing characteristics making its discharge from a suitable extinguishing apparatus superior to most conventional extinguishing agents. It also resists Stratification in storage and in the extinguishing apparatus. The mixture is also capable of withstanding extreme temperatures without deterioration, thereby providing long shelf life and useful life without recharging or replacement and is relatively resistant to moisture deterioratiom The dry, chemical fire extinguishing agent of thepresent invention is packed in in this manner.

While specific examples and structures have been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that modifications thereof will be obvious to one skilled.

in the art/Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a generally-cylindrical container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a gasimpervious piston means mounted in gas-tight relation with the side walls of said container adjacent said extinguishing agent and hand-operable actuating means op eratively connected to said propellant means to actuate 1 said propellant means and cause said propellant means to generate gas pressure.

2. An extinguisher in accordance with claim 1 wherein the propellant means includes a container of gas under pressure and a puncturing means for puncturing said container.

3. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent I comprising a metal carbonate selected from the group 5% by weight and sufficient to form an air-. impermeable coating on the burning surface to which it is applied and prevent reignition of an extinguished flame for at least 10 minutes, disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and handoperable actuating means operatively connected to.

said propellant means and adapted to actuate said propellant means to generate gas pressure.

4. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a container of gas under pressure and a spring-loaded puncturing means for puncturing said container of gas and a hand-operable actuating means including a slidably mounted pin normally holding said puncturing means out of contact with said container of gas and slidable to release said puncturing means and puncture said container of gas and release said gas.

5. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a container of gas under pressure and a spring-loaded puncturing means for puncturing said container of gas and a hand-operable actuating means including a latch means normally holding said puncturing means out of contact with said container of gas and disengageable to release said puncturing means and puncture said container of gas and release said gas.

6. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container, including a disc having a plurality of curved slots each leading from the edge of said disc toward the center thereof and outwardly diverging horn means extending from said disc and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and hand-operable actuating means operatively connected to said propellant means and adapted to actuate said propellant means and cause said propellant means to generate gas pressure.

7. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire,

propellant means in said container adapted to generate adjacent the extinguishing agent and the restraining means is a restraining spring attached to said piston means.

9. An extinguisher in accordance with claim 7 wherein the propellant means includes a piston 'means adjacent the extinguishing agent and the restraining means is a friction-type brake means on said piston means. 

1. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a generallycylindrical container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a gas-impervious piston means mounted in gas-tight relation with the side walls of said container adjacent said extinguishing agent and handoperable actuating means operatively connected to said propellant means to actuate said propellant means and cause said propellant means to generate gas pressure.
 2. An extinguisher in accordance with claim 1 wherein the propellant means includes a container of gas under pressure and a puncturing means for puncturing said container.
 3. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent comprising a metal carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal bicarbonates and mixtures thereof, in a major amount of about 50-95% by weight, and a synthetic metal silicate, in a minor amount of about 50 to 5% by weight and sufficient to form an air-impermeable coating on the burning surface to which it is applied and prevent reignition of an extinguished flame for at least 10 minutes, disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and hand-operable actuating means operatively connected to said propellant means and adapted to actuate said propellant means to generate gas pressure.
 4. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a container of gas under pressure and a spring-loaded puncturing means for puncturing said container of gas and a hand-operable actuating means including a slidably mounted pin normally holding said puncturing means out of contact with said container of gas and slidable to release said puncturing means and puncture said container of gas and release said gas.
 5. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a container of gas under pressure and a spring-loaded puncturing means for puncturing said container of gas and a hand-operable actuating means including a latch means normally holding said puncturing means out of contact with said container of gas and disengageable to release said puncturing means and puncture said container of gas and release said gas.
 6. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container, including a disc having a plurality of curved slots each leading from the edge of said disc toward the center thereof and outwardly diverging horn means extending from said disc and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and hand-operable actuating means operatively connected to said propellant means and adapted to actuate said propellant means and cause said propellant means to generate gas pressure.
 7. A portable fire extinguisher, comprising, a container, a solid, powder-form fire extinguishing agent disposed in said container, distributing means operatively mounted on said container and adapted to distribute said extinguishing agent over the area of a fire, propellant means in said container adapted to generate a gas pressure on said extinguishing agent sufficient to force said extinguishing agent through said distributing means and including a restraining means for reducing the force of said propellant means on said extinguishing agent and slowing the discharge of said extinguishing agent from said container and hand-operable actuating means operatively connected to said propellant means and adapted to actuate said propellant means and cause said propellant means to generate gas pressure.
 8. An extinguisher in accordance with claim 7 wherein the propellant means includes a piston means adjacent the extinguishing agent and the restraining means is a restraining spring attached to said piston means.
 9. An extinguisher in accordance with claim 7 wherein the propellant means includes a piston means adjacent the extinguishing agent and the restraining means is a friction-type brake means on said piston means. 